Device Which Enables A Toilet To Be Used Either As A Urinal Or As Tiolet For Sitting Upon And A Toilet Equipped Therewith

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a toilet installation ( 1 ) for receiving and evacuating human excretions with a chamber ( 4 ) for the excretions, into which these are delivered, and an outlet ( 3 ), which is attached to the chamber, wherein the toilet installation is usable both as water closet and as urinal and wherein a device ( 12, 13 ) is provided, by means of which the chamber is at least partly enlargeable in the vertical direction, such that the chamber can serve as urinal. This device is integrated after a further aspect of the invention into a toilet lid-toilet seat arrangement.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to an installation in accordance with the generic term of claim 1 and an arrangement of toilet lid and toilet seat in accordance with the generic term of claim 6.

PRIOR ART

In the toilet sector, there are various, different toilets, whereby a distinction may be drawn between two fundamental variants, namely on one hand, a water closet consisting of a toilet pan and on top of it a usually pivotable toilet seat and, on the other, a urinal. The advantages of the urinal here consist especially in the fact that the corresponding bowls for urination in the standing position are mounted at a corresponding height, such that soiling by splashing, as occurs when water closets are used while standing, is avoided.

To solve this general problem with water closets, there have already been different solutions, without them having produced a satisfactory result.

DE 299 12 467 describes a urinal whose special design with narrow front can be used as a universal toilet pan, pissoir, bidet or urinal. However, it does not solve the problem of soiling by splashing, as described above.

WO 94/20696 proposes a combination of water closet and urinal, in which the opening of the toilet pan in the rear section is drawn upward, such that the toilet pan opening has an area which is upwardly oriented. Such toilets have the disadvantage that the toilet pan has to be a complex-shaped bowl, with the additional requirement for a complicated lid arrangement.

DE 299 24 070 describes a toilet with urinal, in which, in addition to the water closet with the usual, well-known toilet pan, a fold-out urinal is additionally integrated into the cistern arranged behind the toilet pan. This solution, too, requires substantial, additional and, especially, design effort, with, as in the case of WO 94/20696, the actual toilet pan proving a hindrance to the use of the urinal.

DE 299 03 954 likewise describes toilets that can be used both as water closet and urinal. In this solution, the toilet pan, which is used both as water closet and urinal, is adjusted upwardly and tilted toward the user by an elaborate device. This solution entails substantial effort for the upward adjustment.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Object

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a toilet and a corresponding arrangement for it, by which it is possible to convert a water closet into a urinal without great effort and vice-versa. In particular, commercial toilet pans are to be capable of retrofitting with such arrangements or devices.

Technical Solution

This object is achieved by a toilet having the features of claim 1 and a toilet seat/toilet lid arrangement having the features of claim 6. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The inventors have recognized that a solution to the problem described above regarding general use of a water closet as a urinal can be realized simply by providing a device which at least in part upwardly enlarges or extends the chamber of the toilet pan for human excretions in order that the opening of the chamber for the excretions may be shifted upwards for the purpose of forming the urinal. This can happen simply by providing in the vicinity of the upper rim of the chamber, i.e. the toilet pan, a corresponding device for extending and enlarging the chamber, said device especially lending itself to retrofitting of conventional toilet pans and capable of arrangement, for example, between toilet pan and toilet seat or lid.

This preferably takes place by means of a flexible collapsible or foldable wall, such that the wall of the toilet pan may be extended or supplemented as necessary, that is, when a urinal is required. Preferably, a corresponding device is equipped with a folding mechanism or a folding linkage that can be simply opened and closed again, with the folding mechanism or the folding linkage holding, supporting or stabilizing the flexible, elastic or collapsible or foldable wall.

Preferably, for the purpose of simple realization, the folding mechanism or the folding linkage is made from rods and fixtures, which are connected by hinges, with possible additional provision of a tensioning system using, for example, a cable, for stabilisation.

In an advantageous embodiment, a flexible, collapsible or foldable wall is provided at the folding mechanism or folding linkage that utilizes the lotus blossom effect to repel dirt and water, such that no additional cleaning of the wall of the urinal is necessary. Alternatively, simply employing a wall with a hydrophobic design can at least make cleaning easy.

The lotus blossom effect is based on a combination of surface texture and highly hydrophobic surfaces. The topography of the surface is composed of micro-structures and nano-structures.

In a further preferred embodiment, however, a flushing system can without further ado be additionally provided. This can be integrated, for example, in the form of a corresponding hose line, in particular an upper annular hose line, into the folding mechanism or folding linkage at the upper opening of the wall.

Use of surfaces with a lotus blossom effect in all areas that come or may come into contact with body fluids affords total self-cleaning, which preferably makes the use of a possible additional flushing system unnecessary.

A textile material or plastic in the form of a film has especially proved advantageous for the flexible wall. Said material can be foldable in a simple manner and can be impregnated or its surface can be provided with nano-particles such that it repels dirt and water.

Preferably, the flexible wall is detachably accommodated in the folding mechanism and folding linkage, such that the flexible wall can also be made from an economical material, which can be removed after each use or after repeated use, e.g. a plastic film without lotus blossom effect or the like.

In a further advantageous embodiment, for which protection is also independently sought, the device for the enlargement of the chamber is provided in a toilet seat/toilet lid arrangement, which may be mounted to the usual places for attaching toilet seats/toilet lids to commercial toilet pans, such that simple retrofitting is possible.

In an advantageous embodiment, in which the device for enlarging the chamber is integrated in a toilet lid/toilet seat arrangement, the corresponding device can be provided at the lower surface of the toilet seat, between toilet seat and lid or in or at the lid.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device for enlarging the chamber is accommodated in a two-piece lid, whose parts together form a storage space for accommodating the device, i.e. the folding mechanism or the folding linkage with the flexible wall. At the same time, at least one of the lids can serve as linkage or fixture or part of the linkage for the flexible wall or the folding mechanism or the folding linkage.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the flexible wall in the erected urinal position is formed as a funnel or tube, with the lower end arranged at a connecting piece and/or a through-hole, which forms the connection to the chamber of the toilet pan. The funnel shape of the wall has the advantage that it is easier to fold up and the entire device for enlarging the chamber takes up less space. Furthermore, this shape goes some way towards meeting ergonomic requirements, since it affords a simple way of reaching the size and height of a normal urinal, a fact which is fundamentally the subject of the present invention.

The through-hole at the lower end of the flexible wall or material insert or corresponding connecting piece can preferably be firmly connected to the flexible wall and clipped into the toilet lid or the lower part and/or the toilet seat by a clip device. When the flexible wall is being changed, the corresponding through-hole or the corresponding connecting piece is then simply unclipped and disposed of as well.

Alternatively, the connecting piece or the through-hole can be integrated into the toilet seat/lid arrangement or be arranged such that it is detachable from the wall.

In particular, the connecting piece can also be formed from a material with lotus blossom effect, e.g. plastic.

The device or the folding mechanism and tensioning devices for better flow-off or the folding linkage preferably have a latch mechanism, by means of which the device can be fixed in the erected position, that is, in the urinal position.

Beyond that, it is advantageous if the pivotability of the toilet seat and toilet lids, which are usually arranged so as to swivel toward each other by a hinge, or of the two-piece toilet lid can be locked for certain elements, that is, for the toilet seat and/or lids or parts thereof, such that easy unfolding or folding of the folding linkage or mechanism and tensioning for better run-off become possible. For example, it is advantageous in the case of a two-piece toilet lid to prevent by means of a corresponding lock the lower part of the toilet lid, with or without the toilet seat, from pivoting when the upper part of the lid is opened for the purpose of deploying the folding mechanism or the folding linkage.

The locking possibility for the hinge can, like the latch mechanism for locating the urinal position, be released again as necessary by corresponding arrangements, e.g. lever arrangements, such that the toilet installation is versatile.

Preferably, the lever arrangements for releasing the latch or lock for the hinge or the hinges are implemented in such a way that release of the latch or lock takes place in the direction of motion, that is, automatically when the lever is actuated for the purpose of pivoting the corresponding part.

Accordingly, the latch for the folding mechanism or the folding linkage or the lock for the corresponding hinges are all formed such that latching automatically occurs or the lock is present automatically in the closed state and, in the case of the lock of the lower toilet lid or the toilet seat, is released when the lower lid or the toilet seat is to be raised by means of the lever for releasing the lock.

Each usage state of the toilet, whether closed, in the urinal position, as water closet or in the unfolded state for the purpose of cleaning, can be set in a defined way by means of the ergonomic operating handles, which serve at the same time for operating corresponding components and for locking or releasing the respective state.

In particular, in the erected state as urinal, the folding mechanism or the folding linkage provides for taut tensioning of the wall, so that the lotus blossom effect of the wall can develop. In this way, unimpeded and complete flow-off of the body fluid results.

Preferably, according to a further preferred embodiment, a fitted element is provided between upper rim of the folding linkage or stowage space and toilet seat and lower part of the two-piece lid as well as the upper part of the lid, said element fitting or covering the area between urinal funnel and toilet seat in order to provide protection against soiling and to form an attractive exterior.

Preferably, the stowage room is also designed such that, starting from the upper elliptical, oval or circular or almost elliptical, oval or circular edge of the urinal funnel, this tapers conically, with a continuous, rounded off and absolutely edge-free reduction in size to form a drainage funnel. In particular, the shape of the urinal is characterised by the fact that no rebound walls are present, so that back-splashing of the urine is avoided to a large extent. Accordingly, the urinal funnel is optimised such that the urine impinges on the wall at a very acute or flat angle, preferably at an angle less than 30°.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, characteristics and features of the present invention become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment. The purely schematic figures show here in

FIG. 1 A side view with partial cross-section of the toilet installation in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 The toilet installation from FIG. 2 in the same view, without material insert for the purpose of illustrating the folding linkage;

FIG. 3 In sub-figures a) to d) the different operating states of the toilet installation from FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 A plan view of the closed toilet installation;

FIG. 5 A side view with partial cross-section of a further embodiment;

FIG. 6 A plan view of the toilet installation in accordance with the invention in its use as urinal, without material insert for the purpose of illustrating the folding linkage;

FIG. 7 A schematic axonometric diagram of the toilet installation in accordance with the invention in its use as urinal, with shown fitted element.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a side view of the toilet installation 1 in accordance with the invention, in which a common water closet can be converted without much effort into a urinal, with the urinal position shown in FIG. 1.

Toilet installation 1 comprises a toilet pan 2 with a chamber 4, which flows into an outlet 3 and serves the purpose of receiving and disposing of human excretions. At the upper rim 5, which surrounds the opening of the chamber 4 or the toilet pan 2, a mounting device 7 for mounting the toilet seat 6 and toilet lid 10, 11 is provided in a conventional mounting opening 8. The toilet seat 6 as well as the lid 10, 11 are rotatably pivoted via hinges 9 at the mounting device 7 as well as indirectly at the toilet pan 2.

In accordance with the invention, the arrangement comprising toilet lid 10, 11 and toilet seat 6 is provided with a device for upwardly enlarging the chamber 4 through the erection of a funnel-shaped wall 13, with the connection between the stowage space formed by the funnel-shaped wall and the chamber 4 of the toilet pan being made by a through-hole 18 with a connecting piece 17, which is guided through the lower part 11 of the lid and the toilet seat. The funnel-shaped wall 13 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is made from a flexible textile or film material, which is dirt- and water-repellent in the manner of the lotus blossom effect. This effect can be both inherent in the textile or attained by impregnation.

Apart from the depicted funnel-shaped formation of the wall 13 from a textile impregnated in accordance with the lotus blossom effect, the wall may consist of the most diverse materials and exhibit the most diverse shapes, provided that the purpose of enlarging the chamber 4 and raising of the opening of the chamber 4 for the formation of a urinal is served. Apart from the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, manifold designs of folding, collapsible, hinged, elastically deformable or other suitable materials in all kinds of shapes are conceivable. In particular, it is also possible to provide a cylindrical wall, which, corresponding to the shape of the upper rim 5 of the toilet pan, surrounds the latter and is pulled upward and conversely retracted downward again.

The flexible wall 13, which is held by the lower narrow end of the funnel in a through-hole 18 or the connecting piece 17 at the toilet seat, is deployed at the upper rim by a folding linkage 12, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. Through-hole 18 and the connecting piece 17 can be implemented as clip elements.

The folding linkage 12 has an upper locking collar 24 (see FIG. 2), at which the upper part of the wall 13 forming the large opening is held. The locking collar 24 is oval or circular, may additionally have any other suitable shape and is shown in two-pieces in the embodiment, with each part forming a semi-circle or a half oval and is tiltably connected to the other by two opposing hinges 25. The locking collar 24 is additionally held on one side via the rod linkage 29 and the upper part 10 of the lid, with the connection here also effected by means of hinges, such that mutual pivoting is possible. When the folding linkage is unfolded, the rod linkage 29 is folded away from the upper part 10 of the lid, such that the halves of the locking collar 24 lying on top of one another in the folded up state open through rotation about the hinges 25. This takes place for example by raising the upper part 10 of the lid through simply raising from the lower part 11 of the lid, such that the folding linkage 12 with the flexible wall 13 can deploy from the storage space 20, which is formed between upper part 10 and lower part 11 of the lid (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Between upper part 10 and lower part 11, a retaining strut 22 is provided, which is rotatably mounted by its one end to the lower part 11 of the lid, while the opposite end of 23 is mounted adjustably in a guide rail 21, which is arranged on the upper part 10 of the lid. The slide rail 21 has at one end a projecting latch or catch nose, which can grip the end 23 of the connecting strut 22 in the erected position of the urinal in order that it may thus be latched in this position.

In this position, the bracing cable 14, which is provided between lower part 11 and upper part 10 of the lid, then acts by means of the struts 26 and 27 to stabilise the hinges 25, such that the wall 13 is fully deployed.

In order to guarantee that, when the urinal is opened, that is, the upper part 10 of the lid is raised by means of the lever 16, the lower part 11 does not move as well, the hinge 9, provided for the lid halves of 10 and 11 at the mounting device 7, is provided with a lock which is only releasable by actuating the lever 15 at the lower part 11 of the lid, for example by a cable pull. The actuation direction of the lever 15 for releasing the lock in the hinge 9 is preferably arranged such that it matches the pivoting direction of the lid 10, 11 during opening.

Alternatively, a separate system could be provided for locking the toilet seat and the lower part 11 to the toilet pan.

To close the urinal, the latch mechanism, which in the embodiment shown is formed by the connecting strut 22 as well as the guide rail 21 and the latch 23, must be released by actuating the lever 16, whereby here again any suitable mechanism, such as a cable pull, may be used. The actuating direction 16 of the lever is here again preferably in the same direction as the actuating direction for closing the lid and the upper part 10, such that the latch is released automatically by the lever 16 when the upper part closes.

As may also be seen in FIG. 1, the lower part 11 of the lid, except for the through-hole 18, is of a closed design, such that the toilet seat 6 beneath it with the opening 19 provided inside it, is sealed off. This also rules out soiling of the toilet seat 6 when the urinal is used.

The individual operating states of the toilet installation or the arrangement of toilet seat and lid is shown in sub-figures a) to d) of FIG. 3. In sub-figure a), the toilet installation 1 with the lid 10, 11 is closed, whereby it is not initially apparent from the outside that this is a combination installation of water closet and urinal.

Sub-figure b) of FIG. 3 shows the state in which the toilet installation 1 is used as a urinal, whereby here the upper part 10 of the lid is open and the lower part 11 of the lid is still closed, that is, mounted on the toilet seat 6. By means of the mechanism depicted above using the device comprising flexible wall 13 and folding linkage, an enlarged chamber, which is moreover raised, is created such that the toilet can be used in the standing position. This state is attained simply by raising the upper part 10 of the lid by means of the lever 16, with, due to locking of the hinge 9 by the lower part 11 of the lid and additionally the toilet seat 6 remains lying on the upper rim 5 of the toilet pan.

The locking of the upper part 10 of the lid that occurred in the urinal position can be released by actuating the lever 16, that is, by tilting the lever 16 anti-clockwise in accordance with FIG. 3 b), such that the upper part 10 of the lid can be folded downwards again, with, at the same time, the folding linkage with the flexible wall 13 folding into the storage space 20 between upper part 10 and lower part 11 of the lid, such that the state shown in FIG. 3 a is reached again.

Starting from the closed state in FIG. 3 a), the toilet installation 1 may also be used simply as a normal water closet by raising or unfolding the lid along with the two halves 10 and 11. For this, only the lever 15 provided at the lower part 11 of the lid need be actuated, that is, tilted in the clockwise direction in accordance with FIG. 3 c), in order that the lock in the hinge for the lower part 11 of the lid may be released and the lid overall with upper part 10 and lower part 11 as well as the folding mechanism accommodated between them may be moved upwards.

In order that, in the unfolded position, the through-hole 18 and the connecting piece 17 accommodating it may be prevented from becoming visible, a flexible seal 28 can be provided, which connects both.

Since the connecting piece 17, which serves as connection between the chamber 4 of the toilet pan 2 and the extended chamber, which is surrounded by the flexible wall 13, is provided at the rear of the toilet seat, said connecting piece does not interfere with the use of the toilet installation 1 in the sitting position.

The connecting piece 17 can especially also be of a longer design than shown in the embodiment shown in order that, in particular, the drip edge can be cleaned by the flushing system provided in the toilet seat.

The wall 13, the connecting piece 17 and the through-hole 18 are manufactured from a material with lotus blossom effect or exhibit such an effect at their surface, such that cleaning of the urinal is unnecessary.

For cleaning the toilet, both the lid 10, 11 and the toilet seat 6 with the connecting piece 17 provided therein can then be tilted up about the hinge 9 of the mounting device 7, such that free access is provided to the chamber 4 as well as to the upper rim 5 of the toilet pan.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the toilet installation 1 or the lid 10, in which the two actuating levers 15 and 16, which may be arranged directly next to each other, are readily recognizable. By labeling or providing levers 15, 16 with corresponding symbols, the use of the toilet installation in accordance with the invention and the arrangement of toilet seat and toilet lid can be made readily understandable to the user, with the design in accordance with the invention intuitively guaranteeing correct use.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a toilet installation in accordance with the invention, which largely corresponds to that from FIGS. 1 to 4 and therefore has identical reference symbols. It differs, however, from the preceding embodiment through the fact that a fitted element 30 is provided in the area between lower lid part 11, the upper part 10 of the lid and the elliptical upper rim of the urinal in order that it may serve as cover and screen.

Furthermore, the embodiment of FIG. 5 differs from that of FIG. 1 through the fact that a lever 31 is provided in place of the lock in the hinge 9. The lever 31, like the lever 15, is provided at the front of the toilet installation and acts in conjunction with a latching element 32 at the toilet 2 to lock the toilet seat 6 at the toilet.

In the same way, the lever 15 can also directly influence the toilet seat 6 or latch into this or an additional latch in order to lock the lower lid part 11 at the toilet seat.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a plan view of the toilet installation in the urinal position and a representation of the fitted element 30. 

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A toilet installation comprising: a chamber for receiving and evacuating human excretion, the chamber having an opening with a rim defining the opening; and a device for converting the toilet installation between a urinal state and a water closet state, the device comprising: a flexible wall arranged proximate an upper side of the rim, the flexible wall being movable between a retracted position and a deployed position; wherein the flexible wall is constructed and arranged such that when the flexible wall is in the retracted position, the toilet installation is in the water closet state; wherein the flexible wall is constructed and arranged such that when the flexible wall is in the deployed position, the toilet installation is converted into the urinal state; and where in the flexible wall comprises a surface that repels water and dirt.
 24. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 23, wherein the surface is hydrophobic.
 25. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 23, wherein the surface comprises at least one of nano-structures and micro-structures.
 26. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 23, wherein the flexible wall is formed from a flexible textile or a film, the flexible textile or film having either an impregnation of particles or a coating that provides the surface that repels water and dirt.
 27. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 23, wherein the wall is self-cleaning and/or has a lotus blossom effect.
 28. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 23, further comprising: a folding mechanism comprising a rod linkage, fixtures and hinges, the hinges being constructed and arranged to connect the fixtures to the rod linkage; wherein the folding mechanism is constructed and arranged to move the flexible wall between the retracted position and the deployed position.
 29. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 28, further comprising a tensioning system constructed and arranged to provide tensioning of at least one of the flexible wall and the folding mechanism.
 30. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 29, wherein the folding mechanism comprises a locking collar, wherein the collar is held between the fixtures opening like a fan and is formed so as to be foldable by two opposing hinges, wherein, when the toilet installation is in the urinal state, the two opposing hinges are stabilised by the tensioning system, and an upper rim of the flexible wall is shaped like a funnel.
 31. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the locking collar has a shape that is one of oval and elliptical.
 32. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 28, further comprising a latch mechanism with which the folding mechanism can be releasably locked in at least one erected position.
 33. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a storage space, and wherein the flexible wall is accommodated in the storage space when in the retracted position.
 34. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 23, wherein the flexible wall, in the deployed position, is shaped as a tube or funnel.
 35. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 23, wherein the flexible wall is replaceably arranged in the device.
 36. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a flushing device constructed and arranged to clean the flexible wall.
 37. A toilet installation for receiving and evacuating human excretions, the toilet installation being usable both as a water closet and as a urinal and comprising: a chamber for the excretions; an outlet attached to the chamber; and a device for converting a toilet installation between a urinal state and a water closet state, the device comprising a flexible wall arranged proximate an upper side of a rim of a chamber of the toilet installation for receiving and evacuating human excretions, the flexible wall being movable between a first retracted position and a second deployed position; wherein the flexible wall is constructed and arranged such that when the flexible wall is in the first position, the toilet installation is in the water closet state; wherein the flexible wall is constructed and arranged such that when the flexible wall is in the second position, the toilet installation is converted into the urinal state; and wherein the flexible wall comprises a surface that repels water and dirt.
 38. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 37, wherein the device is mountable to a mounting position for a toilet lid.
 39. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 37, further comprising: a toilet seat constructed and arranged to mount to an upper side of the chamber; and a toilet lid; at least one hinge constructed and arranged to pivotably connect the toilet seat to the toilet lid.
 40. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 39, further comprising mounting means for detachable mounting to the chamber; and wherein at least one of the toilet lid and the toilet seat is arranged pivotably by the at least one hinge relative to the mounting means.
 41. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 39, wherein the device comprises a folding linkage at which the flexible wall is arranged.
 42. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 41, wherein the folding linkage is provided at a lower surface of the toilet lid.
 43. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 41, wherein the folding linkage is provided between the toilet seat and the toilet lid.
 44. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 41, wherein the folding linkage is provided in the toilet lid.
 45. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 41; wherein the toilet lid is a two-piece lid including an upper lid and a lower lid; wherein the lower lid comprises a through-hole through which the flexible wall opens; and wherein the folding linkage is provided between the upper lid and the lower lid.
 46. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 45, wherein the upper lid and the lower lid are separately pivotable via one or more hinges.
 47. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 45, further comprising a fitted element disposed between the lower lid and the upper lid.
 48. The toilet installation as claimed in claim 39, further comprising at least one hinge lock constructed and arranged to lock the at least one hinge that pivotably connects the toilet seat and the toilet lid so as to lock at least one of the toilet seat and the toilet lid. 